This question is based on all the wiring diagrams that I've been looking at lately. In Wolf/Tiger/Rosebud wiring, why does the volume pot in lug get connected to the tone pot out (middle lug) while the tone pot in is wired to ground? It looks like it is the reverse of most standard wiring diagrams where the tone pot out is wired to ground. Just asking because my tone controls with this wiring don't cut much high end till I get to the the end. Is this the same for everyone else? Would reversing it give me a more even taper in the tone control?

softmachine72 wrote:the ground is on the far left or right depending on which why the pot is facing.

Waldo's diagrams have the vol pot facing 180 degrees from the tone pots. which may be confusing you.The middle lug is not ground it is the output. lug one is ground.

+1 Yep, that little detail is REALLY important and easy to miss if ya don't look close and take it into consideration. I've used the very much appreciated diagrams on Waldo's site a bunch. They are accurate.
If it is wired as per Waldo's diagram, it could be the taper of the pot that you don't like. It is suppose to be linear taper. If I remember correctly, there was some discussion here about Jerry liking them (linear pots) for some reason, like it took out the guess work when he wanted the tone down? Something like that.

The Garcia wiring diagrams show the outer lug of the tone pot connected to ground. But when you look at Les Paul or Telecaster wiring diagrams, the middle lug (output) is connected to ground. I was just wondering why the Garcia wiring is so different, and if that contributes to the way the tone pot operates. And if you reversed it to the way it is on Les Paul and Telecaster diagrams, would you change the way the tone control works?

You can't really compare standard Les Paul or other guitar wiring because it is just different. Like I said, the diagrams are authentic and correct. Weather it suits your tastes is another question. What you can do, and is very easy, is to try your ideas and see how you like the sound. Experimenting is fun. You can always switch it back. Try it and let us know the results.

I've been looking at some of the concert DVD's from the All the Years Combine set. This may have helped explain this tone knob setup to me. When Jerry switched from the clean tone to the distorted tone, it looks like he's flipping a switch and then cranking on one of the knobs. From this I'm thinking the effects loop is purely for the distortion tone. He switches over to the effect loop by flipping the switch on the guitar. Then he turned the tone to zero to get the horn-like reduced high end tone from the guitar to the distortion pedal. Then he flips the switch to get out of the effects loop and back to clean and turns up the tone knob enough to get back to the trebly sound. Does that sound right?

shadowboxer wrote:I've been looking at some of the concert DVD's from the All the Years Combine set. This may have helped explain this tone knob setup to me. When Jerry switched from the clean tone to the distorted tone, it looks like he's flipping a switch and then cranking on one of the knobs. From this I'm thinking the effects loop is purely for the distortion tone. He switches over to the effect loop by flipping the switch on the guitar. Then he turned the tone to zero to get the horn-like reduced high end tone from the guitar to the distortion pedal. Then he flips the switch to get out of the effects loop and back to clean and turns up the tone knob enough to get back to the trebly sound. Does that sound right?

Yes, he did that for particular songs. He also used the effects loop (OBEL) for all the other effects he used.

shadowboxer wrote:I've been looking at some of the concert DVD's from the All the Years Combine set. This may have helped explain this tone knob setup to me. When Jerry switched from the clean tone to the distorted tone, it looks like he's flipping a switch and then cranking on one of the knobs. From this I'm thinking the effects loop is purely for the distortion tone. He switches over to the effect loop by flipping the switch on the guitar. Then he turned the tone to zero to get the horn-like reduced high end tone from the guitar to the distortion pedal. Then he flips the switch to get out of the effects loop and back to clean and turns up the tone knob enough to get back to the trebly sound. Does that sound right?

That sounds exactly right if the song has a distortion lead or jam section in the song. Obel bypass is the great way to go into an effect when it's preloaded eg. Ramble on Rose lead.
So it's not for just distortion and od leads it used with diff setting to activate/deactivate particular effects.
Good eyes and the mudding of the tone knob. He used that to tame the mutron3 ear piercing highs as well.